"The advice from an old friend allowed me to find new ones."

Two years after moving away from where I’d grown up and lived my whole life, I came back to visit. I had a fabulous time, which is why, on my third day there, I found myself on the verge of tears in a coffee shop with my friend Celeste.

“I just miss everyone here so much,” I said, staring dejectedly into the foam of my chai latte. “My new friends in my new city are great, but people here know me so well. It’s so easy with you guys. I miss that.”

“I mean we’re your safe investments. We’re the foundation of your portfolio. There’s little to no risk with us. We’re always going to be here. Your new friends? They’re your stocks. So go buy some stocks you didn’t think you’d ever buy. Take a chance on some new ones. And know that you can afford to take those risks because your old friends aren’t going anywhere.” (Post continues after video.)

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Celeste’s words struck a chord with me and not just because I had no idea she was so well-versed in financial planning. She was totally right. I didn’t need to spend all my time worrying that my new friends could never compare to my old ones; if anything, the strength of my old friendships should help empower me to make new ones.

When I got back, I dedicated myself to my new friendships with renewed zeal, keeping Celeste’s words of wisdom in mind. I made plans with a wide variety of people, and put a ton of time and energy into building connections.

I made new friends and strengthened the ones I had already started. When things didn’t work out with a potential new friend, I’d get bummed, sure, but I’d also think, “Hey, not every high-risk stock trade is going to pay off.” (Post continues after gallery.)

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Today, I have a great group of growing friendships in my new city and a great group of old friends in another. It is from this vantage point, having fostered a healthy mix of old and new friendships, that I feel more grateful to my old friends than ever. Here are a few reasons why:

Old friends let you pick up exactly where you left off — whether you last saw each other a week ago or eight years ago.

Old friends make it possible to conduct entire conversations in inside jokes, like a secret code you’ve taken 15 years to hone.

Old friends will actually tell you if that dress is not a great choice for you.

Old friends know you’re smart, even when you don’t act like it. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them,” and how true and wonderful is that? To be able to act stupid around someone without worrying they’ll think you’re stupid?